Signal or musical instrument



March 1935- L. e. BERGERON El AL SIGNAL OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 6, 1932 I l I l I /f l I l & & M y VEW T N T m a fi T m; M MM My Patented Mar. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- SIGNAL OB MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Lawrence G. Bergeron, Elyria, and Robert B.

Brewer, Cleveland, Ohio; said Bergeron assignor to said Brewer Application December 6, 1932, Serial No. 645,966

Claims. (Cl. 1777) Our invention is an improvement in signalling ir and thereby f r ing neatness n pp devices or musical instruments and relates more once as W as p t n to the dev ce. P u arly to such devices of the percussion The rear wall 12 of the resonance chamber is type. also provided with an opening 13 which receives 5 It is one of the objects of our invention to enthe Stiiker p a g mechanism- When the 5 close the striking mechanism of a signal device Vioe is assembled a P a e 1 is sc ewed o Ot e of the percussion type within the resonance cham- Wise removably attached to the W 12 0f he her associated there ith, chamber as indicated at 15. In this manner, the

It is a further object of our invention to constriker it may b d y r m v d from h struct a simple device of the above named char- Chamber o repair or adjusting. A tu 16 may 10 actor in which the striker is carried or mounted be fixed to the plate 14 and Carries a s outer in the resonance chamber, so that u on actuaend a plate 17 r pp r n l roma tion of the striker it will be projected outwardly netic coil of wire 18 between the plates 14 and 17. of the chamber to imparta sharp momentary A suitable l 19 may be placed ovel the outer blow to the gong or other sounding element, end of the tube 16 while the forward end Of the 15 Still another object of our invention is to matube may be flanged inwardly as at 20 to Provide terially reduce the cost of manufacture of devices a guide for the armature stem 21 during its of this character and to render them more attracmo axially in t tube. The armature tive and durable in use. stem 21 is threaded on its rear end to receive the 20 Other objects and advantages of our invention armature 22 in y desirable adjusted pos t on, 20 will become more apparent as the following dethere being Provided a Coil spring 23 about the scription of an embodiment thereof progresses, stem 21 engaging the flange 20 and the armature reference being made to the accompanying d 22 to normally restrict the armature to the aping, in which like reference characters are emproximate Position s ow in Figure Adjust- 25 ployed to designate like parts throughout the merit of the armature y be efieoted by tllm- 5 same. ing the same on the threaded stem 21. It may In the drawing: be said that the armature and its stem, carrying Figure 1 is a vertical section through an apon its forward end a cushioned striking member paratus embodying our invention, the secti n b 24, constitutes the striker which operates through ing taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2. the opening 2 in the front face of the resonance 30 Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device shown chamberin Figure 1. One end of the coil of wire 18 is connected to In carrying out our invention, the resonance a binding p 25 mounted n nd in l d from chamber or box is indicated at 1 and consists one of the Walls of the resonance Chamber, the primarily of an elongated tube closed at its ends other end of the Coil 18 being grounded to the 35 and having a opening 2 in t forward fa or resonance chamber, if the latter is made of metal, ll 3 A gong or other vibratable member 4 although a separate binding post can be provided, i suitably mounted on the resonance box by if desired. The wires 26 and 27 leading from the means of brackets 5 and 6 so that the gong 4 is coil may be connected with a control switch 28 disposed in spaced relation in front of the openand a source of electntal t y 29 respectively ing 2 in the wall 3 of the resonance chamber. to complete the operatmg clrcult The gong 4 is supported against bodily movement It be nfmed that resonance chamber away from or toward the resonance chamber 1 by enctosmg a1r.co1umn 1S m resonance wlth the means of the cushioned pins 7 and 8. Likewise pertod of vlbrgtlon of the gong that longitudinal bodily movement of the gong is also closing the switch 28 the solenoid 18 is energized prevented by means of the cushioned pins 9 and to thrust the armature 22 and the striker 24 10 carried by the resonance chamber 1, these g gg i' ga gs; g gz i gg sggfgg 313 3; r ggi g fi zgg g smtable opemngs 11 under compression, immediately retracts the r 00 n furt e ca yi g out our invention we have striker from contact with the gong. The vibramounted the striker mechanism within t e trons of the gong are transmitted to the air column within the resonance chamber 1 through resonance chamber 1 in such a manner that the the opening 2 which being in resonance, greatly entire device may be readily set in a wall or other amplifies th musical note. We have found, by structure leaving only the .gong exposed, if demounting the striker mechanism within the resonance chamber, that it does not materially reduce the efliciency of the resonance chamber "or the air column therein and a clear loud tone or note will be projected through the opening 2.

Although we have shown but one unit, it will be understood that these units may be grouped together in various combinations to produce any desired tone combination or chord. Furthermore, the units in such groups may be operated simultaneously or in succession, as desired.

Our invention also embodies a kind of unit construction by virtue of the mounting of the essential parts. For instance, a very compact and durable construction involving this phase of our invention is shown in the drawing, where it will be seen that the resonance chamber serves as a unitary support for the gong and the striker mechanism. By such arrangement the construction and assembly is greatly simplified and consequently is less expensive to manufacture.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A signal device including a substantially closed resonance chamber having a restricted opening in one face thereof, a vibratable element, means for supporting said vibratable element exteriorly of said chamber and overlying said opening, a striker normally housed within the said chamber, and electromagnetic means for thrusting said striker quickly through the opening and against the vibratable element.

2. In a signal device of the percussion type, an elongated resonance chamber closed at both ends and having a restricted opening between said ends, a vibratable element, means for mounting said vibratable element exteriorly of said chamber and overlying said opening, a striker normally housed within the said chamber, and means for thrusting said striker through said opening and into momentary contact with the vibratable element.

3. In a signal device of the percussion type, an elongated resonance chamber closed at both ends and having a restricted opening in one face thereof adjacent a vibratableelement, a vibratable element mounting exteriorly, means for mounting said vibratable element of the chamber, a striker operating through the opening to deliver a sharp blow to said vibratable element, and means within the chamber for actuating said striker.

4. In .a signal device of the percussion type, an elongated tubular resonance chamber closed at both ends and having an opening in one face thereof adjacent a vibratable element, a vibratable element mounting exteriorly, means for mounting said vibratable element of the chamber, a retractible striker operating through the opening to deliver a sharp blow to said vibratable element, and means within the chamber for actuating said striker, said means including an electromagnet having connection with a source of controlled electrical energy, an armature directly connected with said striker, and means for retracting the striker.

5. A signal unit comprising a resonance chamber having a restricted opening in one of its walls, a vibratable element spaced exteriorly of said chamber and a striker, and means for projecting the striker from within the chamber through the opening to deliver a sharp blow to said element.

LAWRENCE G. BERGERON; ROBERT. B. BREWER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,994,559. March 19, 1935.

LAWRENCE G. BERGERON, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column,

lines 11 and 20, claims 3 and 4 respectively, strike out the words "mounting exteriorly"; and lines 12 and 21, of said claims 3 and 4, after "element" insert theword exteriorly; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with'lthe'se corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,994,559. March I9, 1935.

LAWRENCE G. BERGERON, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column,

lines 11 and 20, claims 3 and 4 respectively, strike out the words "mounting exteriorly"; and lines 12 and 21, of said claims 3 and 4, after "element" insert the word exteriorly; and that the said Letters Patent should be read withithe'se, corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

